MAVS hire Masai Ujiri as new team President

[Chicagojk]

wow that is a surprise.  Huge fan of Schmitz back in the day.  Sort of started doing the grunt work for Givony expanded the role.    They were my favorite draft guys.  They were everywhere and was looking at prospects years before they came to the draft.  So they had a lot of history with the prospects.   

Haven't really seen him the last few years since he has worked with Portland (The Yang thing was weird--both the draft and fining).  No idea if he will be a good gm and do wonder if Ricardi and Finley are both out...it would seem so.   I feel bad for Ricardi if so.   I liked listening to him and him and schmitz are similar type of grind guys.   Still though Masai needs his guys.   Back a few months ago wasn't it reported that Ricardi is a Kidd guy??

Stein says Ricardi still representing Dallas in the draft room, so who knows.  Maybe there is a role for him.  Or maybe he can take that time locked in that room to network.   Hope he finds a good role either her or somewhere else.

[Chicagojk]

I heard the new Portland owner offered Schmitz all you can eat of the team buffets if he stayed.   Looks like Schmitz turned him down.

[Chicagojk]

Not sure how much influence Schmitz had on final say.  The Deni trade was great...I remember Schmitz really liked him back with draft express, I think.   The Camara pickup was just as good.  

The Scoot draft looks off so far, but he is still young.  I like Sharpe and he is also still young.   There were two better players still available looking back though.

[Smitty]

   

[Chicagojk]

This is Masai's show but he has shown he can work with a team.    He needs someone to be the one to check in with teams and build relationships (which he should have).    Be in Omaha on Wed night to scout a big Ten game.   Be overseas for the European championships.  Etc.   I am probably not giving the role due...it is one of few in the league.    Still though everything will be to Masai's vision.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

This is the guy that was on ESPN right? I remember watching him and thinking this guy is way too good to be working at ESPN. I haven’t kept up with his career since then.

[Chicagojk]

Some off here, but still.  Not bad.  Should have hired in 2020

https://x.com/mike_schmitz/status/132939...02629?s=61

[Smitty]

This is the guy that was on ESPN right? I remember watching him and thinking this guy is way too good to be working at ESPN. I haven’t kept up with his career since then.

Yep…


   

[Chicagojk]

Mavs being likable again to the national media???

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I remember he was all in on Luka in that draft. However long ago that was.

[Chicagojk]

What a story

https://x.com/draftexpress/status/205284...79287?s=46

[FireNicoHarrison]

Some off here, but still.  Not bad.  Should have hired in 2020

https://x.com/mike_schmitz/status/132939...02629?s=61

Bolmaro is the Olimpia Milano starter PG!!!!

But he is not so special... Solid player.

[ThisIStheYear]

Wow. The Mavs suddenly look like a well run, professional organization. Nice work retooling the front office.

[DanSchwartzgan]

If anyone else's mind immediately went to African prospects:

Nate Ament's mom is from Rwanda.  He grew up in the US, but has been to African multiple times leading youth basketball camps.  His Reebok shoe has the colors of the Rwandan flag.

Rueben Chinyelu, a rebounding machine defensive Center from Florida mocked at #45 is from Nigeria and came up through the NBA Academy Africa.

Yessoufou from Baylor currently mocked at #23 grew up in West Africa

[Smitty]

If anyone else's mind immediately went to African prospects:

Nate Ament's mom is from Rwanda.  He grew up in the US, but has been to African multiple times leading youth basketball camps.  His Reebok shoe has the colors of the Rwandan flag.

Rueben Chinyelu, a rebounding machine defensive Center from Florida mocked at #45 is from Nigeria and came up through the NBA Academy Africa.

Yessoufou from Baylor currently mocked at #23 grew up in West Africa

Great info Dan. So, now  I’ll have Ament at #8, Yessoufou at #30, and Chinyelu at #48 mocked to the Mavs until further notice.

[mvossman]

If anyone else's mind immediately went to African prospects:

Nate Ament's mom is from Rwanda.  He grew up in the US, but has been to African multiple times leading youth basketball camps.  His Reebok shoe has the colors of the Rwandan flag.

Rueben Chinyelu, a rebounding machine defensive Center from Florida mocked at #45 is from Nigeria and came up through the NBA Academy Africa.

Yessoufou from Baylor currently mocked at #23 grew up in West Africa

Ament at 8 would be a real disappointment.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Great info Dan. So, now  I’ll have Ament at #8, Yessoufou at #30, and Chinyelu at #48 mocked to the Mavs until further notice.

Yahoo has Chinyelu as the 4th pick in the second round:

Team Fit Chinyelu picked up basketball as a teenager in Nigeria, worked his way up through the NBA Academy Africa pipeline in Senegal, spent a freshman year at Washington State, then transferred to Florida and became the muscle behind a national title team. As a junior, he swept every major defensive player of the year award. The role he projects for is crystal clear: rebound, anchor the paint, finish lobs, and set the tone.

Attributes
Glass Cleaner
Paint Protector
Team Defender
Got That Dawg In Him

Comparisons
Steven Adams
Clint Capela

[DanSchwartzgan]

Ament at 8 would be a real disappointment.

I start thinking about it at #10 if Brown, Burries, Flemings, Wagler and Acuff are all gone.

[windjc]

Again, a move no one saw coming. Let's try to remember that as we feel compelled to come up with the "real story" on every topic. Sometimes you just have to realize there is a culture change and you don't know what you don't know. And as any long time Mavs fan should realize, when it comes to competent ownership we have NEVER known whats its like. Even as a Cowboy's fan you have to go back to the 1970s.

[Smitty]

Yahoo has Chinyelu as the 4th pick in the second round:

Team Fit Chinyelu picked up basketball as a teenager in Nigeria, worked his way up through the NBA Academy Africa pipeline in Senegal, spent a freshman year at Washington State, then transferred to Florida and became the muscle behind a national title team. As a junior, he swept every major defensive player of the year award. The role he projects for is crystal clear: rebound, anchor the paint, finish lobs, and set the tone.

Attributes
Glass Cleaner
Paint Protector
Team Defender
Got That Dawg In Him

Comparisons
Steven Adams
Clint Capela

I’ve seen his name a lot, but haven’t paid any attention to him while watching games this year. As we know, the second round is more or less back room agreements with agents and teams. Nothing like the first round where contracts are guaranteed. I think you’ve found the guy with the highest probability of being the Mavs second round pick. Even if it’s a trade up with cash or something to secure it. I’ll be watching some YouTube stuff on him at the very least.